Tube expanding tool



Oct. 6, 1953 'TOMARIN 2,654,414

TUBE EXPANDING TOOL Filed June 23, 1950 N 10 \Jes FIG. 8 INVENTOR.

' MARCUS TOMARIN BY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a tube expander, and more particularly to a compact manually operable device for expanding or flaring the ends of lengths of tubing.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, yet highly efficient tube expander which is so constructed and arranged as to facilitate its use in on location jobs, thereby enabling the plumber to use it in such heretofore inaccessible locations as between wall studding, fioor joists, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube expander which includes an expanding die member which is constructed in such a manner as to reduce to an absolute minimum the frictional forces encountered incident to a tube expanding operation, thereby enabling the device to effectively expand the ends of tubes incident to manual operation of the tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube expander having a tube expanding die which is particularly adapted to provide an integral, elongated, enlarged sleeve on the end of a length of tubing, wherein the inside diameter of said sleeve is of a dimension at least equal to the nominal outside diameter of the pipe before being expanded.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a tube expander having the hereinabove described characteristics and which is adapted to accommodate a variety of tube sizes, thereby greatly enhancing its utility.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a top plan view of a tube expander embodying the teachings of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are top views of two difierent sizes of tube gripping elements which comprise a detail of the invention.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views, partly in section, illustrating the sequential steps followed in the process of expanding the end of a length of tubing with the tool of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a typical connection made with tubing, the end of one of which of said pieces has been provided with a sleeve formed by my tool.

With reference now to Fig. l, the numerals i0 and i2 denote, generally, a pair of jawmembers which, as best disclosed in Fig. 3, are provided with a recessed portion [4 with which the respective halves l6 and I8 of a tube gripping element are received. Jaw Ill may be releasably and hingedly secured to jaw l2 by means of an eye-bolt 2|], the loop 22 of which engages pin 24 which is secured to and carried by jaw Ii]. A wing nut 26 engages the free outer end of bolt 26 the shank of which extends through axial bore 28 in jaw I2, as illustrated. v

The forward ends of the jaw elements are likewise releasably secured together by means of an eye-bolt 3!] loop 32 of which engages pin 34 of jaw In.

With reference now to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the forward end of jaw I2 is provided with a slotted portion 36 within which the shank of eye-bolt 30 may be received when said bolt is pivoted about pin 34. A Wing nut 38 enables an operator to draw jaw sections l0 and I2 together for securely, though releasably, clamping the end portion of a length of tubing 40 (see 6, 7 and 8) to and between clamping elements [6 and I8.

A fulcrum post 42 is rigidly secured tojaw [2 adjacent its forward end, and a second or guide post 44 is likewise rigidly secured to the jaw adjacent its rearward portion. The upper portion of post 42 is bifurcated for providing a pair of laterally spaced ears 45 between which the forward end of an actuator lever 48 is pivotally secured as by means of bolt 50. The upper portion of post 44 is likewise bifurcated for providing a pair of laterally spaced lever guiding ears 52, between which lever 48 is slidably receivable.

As best disclosed in Fig. 1, the rearward 'portion of lever 48 terminates in a socket portion 54 which is constructed and arranged in such a manner as to releasably receive a suitable length of pipe or other handle member inserted therein for increasing the leverage of the lever.

Jaw I2 has a lever 56 formed integrally therewith, the same being shown in the form of a socket dimensioned to releasably receive the end of a length of pipe or handle member, not illustrated.

A stem 6! is pivotally secured to lever 48 as at 62, it being noted that the upper end of the stem 6| is provided with a pair of laterally spaced members 64 which straddle opposite faces of lever 48. Rigidly secured on the lower end of the stem 6| is a die 60 which is substantially spherical throughout an area substantially reater than a hemisphere.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the rounded or spherical portion of the die 60 is of a dimension approximating the nominal outer diameter of a length of tubing 40, the free outer end of which is to be provided with an elongated, tube-receptive sleeve.

With particular reference now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it will be observed that die 60 will be disposed in substantial axial alignment with tubing 40 which has previously been securely clamped between-moldingelements l6 and [8 for disposing a length of tubing above upper face 1|] of the holding members l6 and [8. As a downward force is applied to die 60, it will be forced into tube 40 for engaging the inner :face'ofothe tubing wall whereby the free outer end of said tubing will be flared outwardly asat -TZ. "Further downward movement of diel66- will introduce it into tubing 60 by a dimension greater than'the radius of the spherical die head, at which-time, see Fig. 8, those portions of the tubing which haveebeenwxpanded by-:a :maximum-tdimension,

mdenoted by-the. numeral M,"equalrtothe diameter -t--ofr=thefspherical :dieheadfwill thereafter be freed of turther: contact --with die s60 incident te-its Zfurther --introduction into :tubing 40. In this emannerl have effectively and eificiently 'elimimated those frictional forces whichwould otherwise'v be ,epresent? and-- which--would resist further introduction of the die head' into tubing 40.

z'Ilhe-amountby which die-66 may be thus" in- Htroducedinto the tubing #willbe "determined by 'fipper face 'lfl of holding members l6 and-l8.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent'thatI LhaVefthus providedi the :end of "tubing Ad -with anintegral -relongated sleeve portion '14 *which,

as olea'rlyrdisclosed :in -Fi'g. 9;isyso proportioned asitomnuglyireceive the outer I8Ildof a' length of -tubing :16 having ainominal i outside diameter eequal to nthataOf "tubing 40. Itwill likewise, be :notedeth-at @if 1 tubing $45 and 16 are-similar, ino eobstnuction will oc'curz in the inside 'of 1 the :tubes which ewill diminish "the :fiow "of fluid .therethrough, since the inside diameter: of tubing "16 :hasmot-abeen:reduced in size, butwill-remain at 's2 l,letimes-e qual :to-the insidediameter :of". tubing l:ltfshouldtbedunderstod that varioussimd tubalng may ibe--accommodated-merely by utilizing holding members: I Brand l 8 having various: sized complementary tube 1 gripping apertures 80 "and w82,as illustrated: in Figs- 4 andsfi.

-Itwilllikewise .be noted that adifi'erentidie element- 60 will; her-utilized fordifferent: sized 'ltllbing.

- rlneoperationr=eyebo1ts 20 andiemareiloosened V flbyeanamount :sufiicientuto enable "jaw elements 4 I l'kand t2 ztotbe -laterally separatedcbyzam amount ssumoientetoenablethe insertion of thef'de'sird nsetnofholding= members I E rand I18, rafter-which nut 26 maybexidrawlnwup-.for drawing eye-bolt a2o-throughtbore z8wof 1 j aw 1 12, thereby hingedly uinterconneetinggiaws- Hr andlIZ as $11; 24. After ethe.endro'fear-length .of-- tubing has 'beentinserted upwardly "through 3 the aperture defined cby' the complementary portions of holding membersIG and H3, Jaw li1maybezswung toward'ajaw: I2 after which eye-boltwtfl isiseated in slot 36 of jaw 2, =afterwhich-zthe jaws may be snugly drawn'itosgether. for securely-aanchoring-the tubingethereto incident to manipulation of clamping element 8.

TPrferably areinforcingmember-BQ is provided in spanning relationship with posts 142 and 44, thereby enhancing the rigidity .of the structure.

With;particular reference enow tolFigs. AeS,

it will be observed that the upper face 10 of the tube gripping elements I 6 and I8 have been provided with a recess or chamfer denoted generally by the numeral 66, the radius of which is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, equal to the radius of spherical die head 60 plus the thickness of the wall tubing. The purpose of this chamfer is to provide an abutment complementary to die 60 against which the outerwall of the 10 tubing being expanded adjacent the lower end of sleeve M mayabut whereby to effectively preclude the possibility of cracking or undue weak- -e'ning of the tube at the juncture of the sleeve .therewith.

It will be observed that my die 60 may be coni sideredrfas comprising an integrally formed uni- .tary spherical-pilot and sizing portion, wherein "the'pilotportionmay be considered as that part of=portion of spherical die member 66 in contact with the inner wall ofFflared portion 12 of tube 46, see. Fig. 7. I hersizing portienof-die P60111537 .be.considered-as the maximumsdiameteri thereof, which portion-determines the-inside diameter: of

sleeve 14.

'25 iFromrthe foregoingdt will: be noted that I have .provided :21: tube expanding tool which' is -.easy?to operate, whichistadaptable to" var-i'ous' sized tubing 'and -=whichthough lightweight Y and weasily portable-1'snevertheless-sturdy and quite rugged. .It should -be--understood' that various changes and modifications maybe made-in-the structural details of the-device within-the scope of the'zap- .vpendedeclaims; without departing, from the' spirit .otthe invention. WhatiscIaimectis:

1 -A1-portable smanually op era'bletube expand-- ing tool including: a: pair ofelongatedrclamping members having; opposed erecessesiintermedi-ate the ends thereof, complementary sections of a I 40 tube: gripping element Eto; removroly v fit .intosaid recesses a for supporting :a tube '.-to: be expanded, -separatefizneans at E'opposite'endsv of the clamping nmemberst'for releasablyfseouring the sam'e together *a'nd f or tightening the clamping members onto 4 5; a tubereceiveda'betweeiiithe "sections 'of sai'd tube mgr ippingaeleinent, 1a fulcrum :pos't integral *with one end portion of one of the clamping-members, --an aetuator lever: pivotally eonnectd' at oneend "to the fulcrumpost for movement'in' onlya' single splaneitoward sand "from the I clamping members,

a-fstem pivotally' connected atone nd-to-theactuator lever intermediate =the"'ends thereof and eextendingftherefrom 'toward the clamping memabers, I a spherical -die 'rigidly secured to' the "outer end of said stem, 1a secon'd 'l'ever rigidly secured ztto .thatxonetof theclamping members with which -saidtfulcrum post; is integrally formed; said second lever extending longitudinally in the plane of'a'novementof the actua-tingle'ver from the op- :posite end of the =clamping member on which the fulcrum post is located, said spherical die being' insertableinto' the-free outer end of a tube supported betweenthe clamping members incident to relative movement or the actuating lever and second-lever toward o'ne an0ther for i forcing tlie spherical die -a i substantial "distance into thetube for expanding that portion of the tube which projects from said tube gripping ele- "ment toward-the spherical dieto form an-elongated tubular sleeve portion.

2. FA portable manually operable tube expanding tool of the construction defined'in claim 1 zr=and=which has .a guide'p'ost for'the actuating .lever:formedintegral with the-clamping mem- 7 her with which the :fulcrum i post is integrally formed and which is located on the opposite end portion of said clamping member from that end portion on which the fulcrum post is located, the upper part of the guide post being bifurcated to provide a pair of laterally spaced sections between which the forward part of the actuating lever is slidably received.

3. A portable manually operable tube expanding tool of the construction defined in claim 2 and which has a reinforcing member spanning the fulcrum post and guide post that are integral with one of the clamping members and is rigidly secured at opposite ends to the fulcrum post and guide post, respectively, intermediate the ends of the same.

MARCUS TOMARIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Scott Nov. 26, 1901 Walters Aug. 24, 1920 Vasselli Oct. 2, 1923 Bohling Aug. 7, 1928 Hollars Sept. 13, 1932 Hood May 6, 1941 Woeller Dec. 26, 1950 Franck Jan. 3, 1950 

